It’s hard to believe but we are already halfway through the 2011-2012 TAH Symposia Series!
Last month we had Professor John Fea from Messiah College in Pennsylvania visit us to speak about the Enlightenment in America. Professor Fea, who was a guest speaker for the Savannah TAH last year as well, gave a very energetic and informative lecture. His lecture definitely provided some insight into his book The Way of Improvement Leads Home and made it much easier to understand the American Enlightenment, not just from the view of some of the major players (Franklin and Jefferson), but also from the common man’s point of view.
This past week we had Professor Peter Silver from Rutgers University provide a very interesting and insightful lecture regarding the Seven Years (French and Indian) War. Though not usually considered a major teaching topic (see GPS 4H4 and USH3), the French and Indian War could easily be considered the First World War; with the superpowers of the time, the French and the British, battling it out on both the European and North American continents. Using a fine combination of lecture and primary sources, Professor Silver related the importance, impact, and results that the French and Indian War had on the American colonies.
Wrapping up the morning session we had fellow Coastal Museum Association members Tania Sammons from the Telfair Museums, and John Caramia from the Coastal Heritage Society, discuss the various resources they have to offer our local teachers.
In the afternoon we had a great hands-on workshop featuring Jami Humphrey from Diniah Zikes Foldables. Jami provided the teachers with numerous examples of how to use foldables, which are hands-on graphic organizers, when teaching American History in their classrooms.
- Teachers creating foldables for their classrooms.
Jami Humphrey
In February, we are certainly looking forward to listening to UCLA Professor Gary Nash discuss the struggles and tribulations of the American Revolution. Wrapping up the series in March will be Woody Holton from the University of Richmond, discussing how America became a world power after the American Revolution.
